Automobile speed-warning signaling device



A ril 17, 1928.

W. J. CRAFT ET AL AUTOMOBILE SPEED WARNING SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1925 n M Illif. W M 4 In M 1 mam 4 Z [w MW W 1 a 7 H a w 5 W 2 N. 01 2 III l l PH .I 7 6 a hfl 5 68 4 'xffforxey perfect, durable in Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITE STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JAMES CRAFT, OF LOS ANGELES, AND OTTO IvlI. CLINTON, OF GLENDALE,

CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE SPEED-WARNING SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed April 11, 1925. Serial No. 22,400.

'-'lhis-invention has reference, generally, to improvements in automobile 'speed warning signaling devices; and the present invention relates, more particularly, to a mechanicalelectrical derice adapted to be connected to -automob1'les,.yet in no wise interfering witlrtheir starting, operation and stopping control -mecha nism, or speed as indicated on the speedometer. The objects of this invention are =primar-ilyyto secure an accurate electrical mechanical device to effectively and unmistakably attract by a suitable-Warningnote when a certain speed limit selected atwill is-reached.=-

i. This'invention contemplates the provision ='of a means for performing the above object;

and embodies a device that is mechanically construction, and correct in principle.

' Th e full objec tsof -this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated,

will 'be clearly understood from thefollowin'g detailed description thereof. i 'Wi'th' the various objects of this invention in view,'=tl1e said-invention consists, primarily, in-the arrangement and combinations of-the de 'ices and parts, as'well as in the details of th'e construction of the said parts,

as described'in detail in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses'ofthe claim which are appended to specification.

'Ihe-invention'is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which --Figure 1"-is a diagrammatic view of the device partly in section.

Referring in detail to the drawing the numeral 1 designates a speedometer gear common to all-automobiles, 2 is a pinion andw'vhich form an essential part of this jmeshing with the said gear which in turn drives a shaft '3 revolving wlthin the bearing 4. Mounted on the shaft 3 is a mitre gear 3" meshing with a'mitre gear 8 connect- -ed by means of a recess.8' to a key (3 atone end of-a drive shaft 6. the other end of the said shaft being engaged :by means'of a recess 6' thereiinand a keyli-S to the speedometer' cable 11; all of above with the exception of the said drive shaft 6 being common to and a part of the speedometer mechanism of all aiitomobiles. Thesaid mitre gear 8, drive shaft 6 as Well as the male or keyed end 13 of the aforesaid speedometer cable screw; :1. A lever'28- pivoted near one of its ends has-its Sher re ame? projecting into'a slot '11 being journaled inbushings 9 and 10 sup ported in a case or housing 5.

The numeral 12 indicates thefemale connection on the end'of the speedometer cable which ordinarily is engaged directly to the recessed end 8 forming pa-rt'of the mitre gear 8 being theusual way of driving speedometers from the-transmission ordrive shaft of automobiles, thelinsertionof the drive --shaft.6.being the means we employ .to operate our device, lthe same-in: turn operating the speedometer 1n the usual manner as if the said shaft had not been inserted' Mounted on the said drive shaft 6 is a mitre-gearfwhich meshes with; a mitre gear 14,'theT same having .a tubula'r hub 15 which journals in ball beari-ngslfi and 17. Lugs l8 on the hub '15 carry'pins :19,-ori which are mounted gov- .nernorwe1ghts20and-21 cm the inner ends of which are fingers22 which press against .a pliingen23 which in turn presses against a ball {241 forcingtheseait block 25 against a spring 11 as the: said weights 20 and 21 move foutWardly.:;:The member 44 is a regulating screwforadjus'ting the tension on the spring 41, 43 being a protecting cap-for the said 26in 25, the longer arm-of 28 forming at its outer end 29 satiric of contact as it is moved in and out, with. the contacts 30 suitably mounted on an insulated base 31.

I A contact wire 34 passes from its connection on the :lever 28 thru a flexible cable to a contact on the buzzer 36. wire leads 32 from the contacls 30 passing thru a. flexible cableh leading from the case 5 to the cont-acts 33 on the control disc 40.- Mounted on the saiddisc is a contact lever pivoted at its center. one end 38 of which is an indicator, the other end terminating into a button 39 to which 'is suitably attached a contact spring 3 functioningas a buss bar. running from the center of the control lever is connected in any-suitable manner to any suitable ground on the-automobile, and a similar lead .from the automobile battery 37 to tlie buzzer-36 and the ground completes the circuit.

- VVhilea' buzzer is shown in the drawing as a means for creating a warning note or sig nal, a hornor hell would answer just as well. The drawing further shows the indi- A wire 35v cator 38 at the 0 or zero mark and the contact point 29 of the lever 28 at the 15 mile contact point so that with the device in this position the automobile can be driven at any speed without causing the buzzer or other aia'ri'i'i'in'g means to operate, but when the indicator 38 is set at any one of the numerals on the disc, and that particular speed is reached, the warning note is made and the light 45 simultaneously caused to burn.

The device has its primary purpose to serve as a warning note when a speed greater than is desired to be made is exceeded. Speedometers have their use and as far as they go, they answer their purpose. \Vit-h the maze of trafli-c met with, however, the antomobilist has too many different duties to perform to constantly watch his speedometer, and this is the reason why it-would seem that a. device as we have invented should prove itself of inestimatable value and a valuu'ble part of any automobile.

Our .device is readily attached to any automobile without changes of any kind and at very little expense. The control disc and the lamp are the only parts thereof above the automobile. floor, the lamp carrreadily be attached to the dash board and the control disc may be attached likewise or on the steering wheel as'mi' ht be preferred. In its operation it is 'excee ingly simple, the movement with the hand of the indicator 38 to the numeral on the disc. indicating the speed it is desired not to reach being all-that is necessary; the warning sound being made and thelamp being caused to light up when .the speed thus indicated is reached. Assuming that in passing thru the business district of any city, the automobilist notes signs limiting his right to drive at a speed no greater than 15 miles per hour, all that it would be necessary for him to do would be to move the aforesaid indicator to the numeral 15 on the disc and drive on without worrying about his speedometer reading, exceeding the speed limit and possible arrest, for just as soon as this speed is reached the device unfailingly with its powerful, penetrating and unmistakable warning note and the lighted lamp would attract his instant attention. It warns in plenty of time, at once, and it keeps on warning until the speed is either reduced to a speed lower than that as indicated by the position of the indicator on the disc, or the indicator itself ismoved to another numeral on the disc greater than the speed at whichtheautomobile is traveling.

\Ve are aware, that some changes-may be made in the general arrangements and coinhinations of the devices and parts, as well in the. details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing spcciiicz-ition, and as defined in the claims which are appended thereto. Hence, we do not limit our present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do we confined ourself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

\Vha-t we do claim, however, is:-

i. In a device of the character described, con'i'prising an electrically energized Inechaliicul structure adaptable for attachment to the speedometer actuating means of motor vehicles. a shaft, operatively connected therewith, a tubular hub, a gear on said hub and engaging with a gear mounted on said drive shaft, a plunger disposed in said hub, a pair of weightand finger members )ivoted' to said tubular hub, said finger memhers engaging said plunger, a seating block, a. ball positioned within said hub and engaging said seating bl0ck, sa,id plunger engaging with said ball, a lever, said plunger, ball and seating block forming an actuating means for moving said lever, and a. spring member for tensioning the movement of same.

2. In a. device of the character described, comprising an electrically energized mechanical structure adaptable for attachment to the speedometer actuating .means of motor vehicles, a shaft and a tubular hub operatively engaging each fothena plunger disposed in said hub, said plunger engaging at one of its ends with a. ball positioned within a seating block and aforesaid tubular hub, a lever engaging said seating block, actuatin; weight members pivot-ally attached to said tubular hub, said members actuating said plunger against said ball, seating block and lever, a spring adapted to bear respectively in an opposite direction, and a screw lnen'iher for adjusting the same.

3. In a device of the character described comprising an electrically energized mechanical structure, a shaft operatively connecialilc to the spu-donu-ter actuating means of motor vehicles. a tubular hub having a plunger therein disposed, means for connect'ing said hub to said drive shaft and for actuating said plunger, a ball engaging said pliuiger, and a seating block engaging said ball, a pivoted lever, disposed to engage with a speed indicating device, said lever spring tensioned against said seating block. and actuated by the movement of the said plunger, ball and block.

In testimony. that we claim the invention set forth above, we have hereunto set our hands this eighteenth day of March, 1925 WM. JAMES CRAFT. OTTO M. CLINTON. 

